10 Jun 2024
Our Contest Winners completed their PADI Open Water Courses! Learn more about their experiences here:
On 10 June 2024, our Kaia Initiative Open Water Contest Winners completed their PADI Open Water courses!
“The diving was fun! It was so cool, I got to swim next to sharks and rays and I even found half an eagle ray tooth. Overall, I'm really happy that I got to experience this, it’s not every day you get to see a hammerhead and manta ray in the same dive. Hopefully in the future I could further my diving experiences, so I can be an efficient shark scientist and help research and educate others about these wonderful creatures and their environment.”
-Zoethout, 16 (currently studying Environmental & Marine Science at Republic Polytechnic)
“Watching all the different marine life inside the tank, swimming with them was amazing. It was so amazing to be in S.E.A. Aquarium's Open Ocean Habitat, with more than 40000 marine animals! I got close to a shark, and I couldn't believe it. At one point I was swimming with a manta ray which is crazy! It honestly felt like a fever dream, felt like I was in another world. I got to say hi to people outside the tank which was cool too! By the end of the 3 days, I left with new friendships, an unforgettable experience and a PADI Open Water diving certificate!”
-Davina, 14
“I’ve always wanted to be a diver, to be able to see the vibrant life in the ocean. Growing up, I loved to go to the SEA Aquarium and was so jealous of the fish there because they could swim so freely. [...] It was so exciting and fun and new. I got to meet new people, learn new skills, and be in a completely new and different environment (I felt more like a fish than a human). [...] I hope I get to dive again with my [dive] buddy and all my friends.”
-Xingyu, 14
“My love for animals goes a long way. The fact that I can now [dive] with them to a certain depth in the ocean has changed my life forever thanks to Kaia Initiative and my instructors. This opportunity was really an unforgettable one and will forever stay in my heart. Diving has really brought all of us together and has showed me a new perspective of the underwater world.”
-Rui Juan, 17
Read more about their experiences in our blog!
Zoethout: https://www.kaia-initiative.com/post/zoethout-s-open-water-diving-experience
Davina: https://www.kaia-initiative.com/post/davina-s-open-water-diving-experience
Xingyu: https://www.kaia-initiative.com/post/xingyu-s-open-water-diving-experience
Rui Juan: https://www.kaia-initiative.com/post/rui-juan-s-open-water-diving-experience